Brig

y body aching, my mind a feverish swamp of memories. In my delirium, I thought I felt a cool ha

g in a chair by the bed, his face etched with concern.

my hand, but I

tly. "You know I would have come home.

ng from you." I met his gaze, my own eyes cold. "You and Kiara-a mani

hooled his features back into a mask of weary patience. "Avery, please. Kiara has a s

"I know I've been... distracted. Once Kiara is back on her feet, I promise, we'll have the weddi

I wanted? Did he understand me at all? Or was I just a role

t the screen, his expression i

p and walked towards the door. "No, no, I'm not with anyone. Just

practiced, apologetic smile on his f

a blank mask. There w

pale face, the dark circles under my eyes. "I could stay," he offere

nal, cruel test to

ice flat. "Your 'me

eplaced by the familiar justification. She was still the proud, difficul

held my hand with scraped knuckles, for the young man who wrote me a hundred love letters, for the fiancé who named his company after me. I cried until my throat was raw

arity took their place. I was done. Done wait

so-called husband. The phone rang and rang before going to vo

ke Alexander. A bitter laugh escaped me. It seemed the u

alone, I woul

iling and happy, was a mockery. I smashed it on the floor, the sound of shattering glass a balm to my frayed nerves. I was

d on them. I found a pair of scissors and methodically began to destroy everything. I cut his face out of every photograph, leaving a jag

his office. I called a charity and told them to come take every piece of furni

st of a love that had died. I showered, packed a bag with m

ts blurring through my tear-streaked visio

. A sign in the window advertised climbing gear and hiking equipment. A memory flickered-a trip to the mo

," he had promi

ing for "one

ing bag, a sturdy pair of hiking boots, a climbing harness. I was

red it. I was loading the gear into the back of my SUV w

en, his face a mask of rage

who?" I as

ing on the camping gear in my trunk. A dark, ugly suspicion twisted his features. "What

listen carefully," he snarled, his voice a low, terrifying growl. "Kiara is more important than y